Dual-web retractor arrangement

ABSTRACT

A dual-web retractor includes a frame having first, second and third sidewalls spaced apart from one another with the second sidewall positioned between the first and third sidewalls, a spool rotatably mounted to and between the first, second and third sidewalls, the spool having a first spool section defined between the first and second sidewalls and a second spool section defined between the second and third sidewalls, a first web having one end coupled to the first spool section, and a second web having one end coupled to the second spool section, wherein rotation of the spool causes the first and second webs to be simultaneously paid taken up on or paid out from the first and second respective spool sections.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/883,175, filedMay 26, 2020, which claims the benefit of, and priority to, U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/855,048, filed May 31, 2019,the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated herein by referencein their entireties.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to restraint systems for motorvehicles, and more specifically to web-based restraint systems includingone or more retractors.

BACKGROUND

Conventional motor vehicles may be equipped with one or more web-basedrestraint devices configured to secure passengers and/or cargo in amotor vehicle. Such restraint devices typically include one or moreretractors.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure may comprise one or more of the features recitedin the attached claims, and/or one or more of the following features andcombinations thereof. In a first aspect, dual-web retractor may comprisea frame having spaced-apart sidewalls, a spool rotatably mounted to andbetween the sidewalls, a pair of engagement members configured to bereleasably engaged to one another, and a single web having opposite endseach coupled to a different one of the pair of engagement members and aportion of the single web between the opposite ends affixed to the spoolto define a first web section extending from one end of the framebetween the spool and one of the pair of engagement members and a secondweb section extending from an opposite end of the frame between thespool and the other of the pair of engagement members, the first andsecond web sections responsive to rotation of the spool in a web take updirection to alternatingly wrap together onto the spool and to rotationof the spool in a web pay out direction to alternatingly unwrap togetherfrom the spool.

In another aspect, a dual-web retractor may comprise a frame havingspaced-apart sidewalls, a first spool rotatably mounted to and betweenthe sidewalls, a second spool rotatably mounted to and between thesidewalls, the first and second spools spaced apart from one anotherwith a rotational axis of the first spool parallel with a rotationalaxis of the second spool, a pair of engagement members configured to bereleasably engaged to one another, a first web having one end coupled toone of the pair of engagement members and an opposite end affixed to thefirst spool such that the first web extends from one end of the framebetween the first spool and the one of the pair of engagement members, asecond web having one end coupled to the other of the pair of engagementmembers and an opposite end affixed to the second spool such that thesecond web extends from an opposite end of the frame between the secondspool and the other of the pair of engagement members, and means forsynchronizing rotation of the first and second spools such that rotationof one of the first and second spools in a web take up direction causesrotation of the other of the first and second spools in the web take updirection so that the first and second webs are simultaneously taken upon the first and second spools respectively, and such that rotation ofone of the first and second spools in a web payout direction causesrotation of the other of the first and second spools in the web payoutdirection so that the first and second webs are simultaneously paid outfrom the first and second spools respectively.

In yet another aspect, a dual-web retractor may comprise a frame havingfirst, second and third sidewalls spaced apart from one another with thesecond sidewall positioned between the first and third sidewalls, aspool rotatably mounted to and between the first, second and thirdsidewalls, the spool having a first spool section defined between thefirst and second sidewalls and a second spool section defined betweenthe second and third sidewalls, a pair of engagement members configuredto be releasably engaged to one another, a first web having one endcoupled to one of the pair of engagement members and an opposite endaffixed to the first spool section such that the first web extends fromone end of the frame between the first spool section and the one of thepair of engagement members, and a second web having one end coupled tothe other of the pair of engagement members and an opposite end affixedto the second spool section such that the second web extends from anopposite end of the frame between the second spool section and the otherof the pair of engagement members, wherein rotation of one of the firstand second spool sections in a web take up direction causes rotation ofthe other of the first and second spool sections in the web take updirection so that the first and second webs are simultaneously taken upon the first and second spool sections respectively, and such thatrotation of one of the first and second spool sections in a web payoutdirection causes rotation of the other of the first and second spoolsections in the web payout direction so that the first and second websare simultaneously paid out from the first and second spool sectionsrespectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way oflimitation in the accompanying Figures. Where considered appropriate,reference labels have been repeated among the Figures to indicatecorresponding or analogous elements.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of a dual-web retractorarrangement.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dual-web retractor arrangement ofFIG.

FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the dual-web retractor arrangementof FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the dual-web retractor arrangementof FIG. 1 as viewed along section lines 4A,B-4A,B and illustrating theretractor arrangement with the single web at least partially retractedwithin the retractor and wrapped about the retractor spool.

FIG. 4B is another cross-sectional view of the dual-web retractorarrangement of FIG. 1 as viewed along section lines 4A,B-4A,B andillustrating the retractor arrangement with the single web fully paidout of the retractor.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of another embodiment of a dual-web retractorarrangement.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the dual-web retractor arrangement ofFIG. 5 .

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the dual-web retractor arrangement ofFIG. 5 shown from the same perspective as FIG. 6 but shown with thecover removed.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the dual-web retractor arrangement ofFIGS. 1 and 7 shown from an opposite end of the retractor.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the dual-web retractor arrangement of FIGS.5-8 .

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the dual-web retractor arrangementof FIG. 9 as viewed along section lines 10-10.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the dual-web retractor arrangementof FIG. 9 as viewed along section lines 11-11.

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of yet another embodiment of a dual-webretractor arrangement.

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of still another embodiment of a dual-webretractor arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the concepts of the present disclosure are susceptible to variousmodifications and alternative forms, specific exemplary embodimentsthereof have been shown by way of example in the drawing and will hereinbe described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there isno intent to limit the concepts of the present disclosure to theparticular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is tocover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives consistent withthe present disclosure and the appended claims.

References in the specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”,“an example embodiment”, etc., indicate that the embodiment describedmay include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, butevery embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature,structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases may or may notnecessarily refer to the same embodiment. Further, when a particularfeature, structure or characteristic is described in connection with anembodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of oneskilled in the art to effect such feature, structure or characteristicin connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitlydescribed. Further still, it is contemplated that any single feature,structure or characteristic disclosed herein may be combined with anyone or more other disclosed feature, structure or characteristic,whether or not explicitly described, and that no limitations on thetypes and/or number of such combinations should therefore be inferred.

This disclosure relates to various embodiments of a dual-web retractorarrangement in which two sections of a single web, or in which twoseparate webs, are simultaneously retractable within the retractorarrangement, i.e., the webs or web sections can be simultaneously woundonto or otherwise taken up on at least one retractor spool, and aresimultaneously payable out of the retractor arrangement, i.e., the websor web sections can be simultaneously unwound from or otherwise releasedfrom the at least one retractor spool. Referring now to FIGS. 1-4B, anembodiment 10 of a dual-web retractor arrangement is shown. In theillustrated embodiment, the retractor arrangement 10 includes a dual-webretractor 12 within which a single web 13 is operatively attached to aframe 14 to which a housing 15 is mounted, wherein the single web 13 hastwo opposed sections 16, 26 each extending away from an attachment pointof the single web 13 within the web retractor 12. One end of the housing15 illustratively defines a web opening 18 through which the web section16 passes into and out of the housing 15, and an opposite end of thehousing 15 defines another web opening 28 through which the web section26 passes into and out of the housing 15.

In the illustrated embodiment, one end of the single web 13 defined atthe end of the web section 16 passes through a slot 20 defined on aconventional engagement member 22, and is then attached back onto theweb section 16 in a conventional manner to secure the web section 16 tothe engagement member 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the engagementmember 22 is a conventional tongue member of a conventional restraintsystem, and in this embodiment the tongue member 22 illustrativelydefines a conventional tongue 24 configured to be detachably coupled toa conventional buckle member. In this regard, an opposite end of thesingle web 13 defined at the end of the web section 26 passes through aslot 30 defined on another conventional engagement member 32 in the formof a conventional buckle member. The end of the web section 26 is thenattached back onto the web section 26 in a conventional manner to securethe web section 26 to the buckle member 32. The buckle member 32illustratively defines a conventional slot 34 therein sized andconfigured to receive the tongue member 22. The buckle member 32includes a conventional locking structure therein configured tolockingly engage the tongue member 22, and further includes a releaseactuator 35 operatively coupled to the locking structure. The tonguemember 22 and the buckle member 32 are configured and operable in aconventional manner such that advancing the tongue 24 into the slot 34causes the locking structure to engage the tongue 24 and lock orlockingly couple the tongue member 22 to the buckle member 32, and thelocking structure is responsive to actuation of the release actuator 35to release the tongue 24 therefrom and, in some embodiments, to at leastpartially eject the tongue 24 from the slot 34.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the retractor 12 includes aframe 14 defining a pair of spaced-apart sidewalls (only sidewall 14Ashown) each extending upwardly from a floor or bottom wall 14B of theframe 14. The frame 14 is shown supported by a support surface S, andthe frame 14 is illustratively mountable, i.e., securable, to thesupport surface S in a conventional manner. In the illustratedembodiment, for example, the frame 14 is mounted to the support surfaceS by a fixation member 40, e.g., a bolt or screw, which extends throughan opening formed through the frame wall 14B and into an opening in thesupport surface S. In embodiments in which the fixation member 40 isthreaded, the fixation member 40 is illustratively advanced into theopenings to secure the frame 14 to the support surface S. It will beunderstood that the fixation member 40 represents only one examplestructure and technique for mounting the frame 14 to the support surfaceS. Those skilled in the art will recognize other structures and/ortechniques for mounting, i.e., securing, the frame 14 to the supportsurface S, and it will be understood that any such other structuresand/or techniques are intended to fall within the scope of thisdisclosure.

A spool 44 is rotatably coupled to and between the two sidewalls of theframe 14 as best illustrated in FIGS. 4A, 4B. A conventional springassembly (not shown) is coupled to an opposite side of the sidewall 14A,and the spring assembly illustratively biases the spool 44 to rotate ina web take-up direction as is conventional. The biasing force of such aspring assembly may be overcome by pulling the web 13 in a web pay-outdirection, opposite the web take-up direction, to pay out, i.e.,extract, web 13 from the retractor 12 in a conventional manner. In someembodiments, at least one toothed wheel is rotatably coupled to thespool 44 such that the toothed wheel rotates with the spool 44. In somesuch embodiments, two such toothed wheels are mounted to the spool 44;one at each end thereof. This embodiment is illustrated by example inFIGS. 4A and 4B with only one of the toothed wheels 48A shown. In suchembodiments, the frame sidewalls illustratively define a locking baropening therethrough, e.g., 14C, sized to engage a conventionalrotatable locking bar 49. In such embodiments, the web retractor 12 is aconventional automatic locking retractor (ALR), wherein the locking bar49 illustratively rotates within the opening 14C relative to the framesidewall 14A to a position which cooperates, i.e., engages, with theteeth defined on the toothed wheels, e.g., 48A, to block rotation of thespool 44 in the web pay-out direction under deceleration conditions ofthe support surface S as is conventional and as illustrated in FIGS. 4Aand 4B, and to otherwise rotate, or stay, in a position relative to theframe sidewall 14A, i.e., disengaged from the teeth defined on thetoothed wheel(s), which allows rotation of the spool 44 in the webpay-out direction in response to a force applied to the web 13 in thepay-out direction that is greater than the biasing force of the springassembly described above. In such embodiments, the spool 44 is rotatablerelative to the frame 14 in the web take-up direction regardless of theposition of the locking bar relative to the toothed wheel 48A, and thedefault position of the locking bar, i.e., under non-decelerationconditions and deceleration conditions below a threshold value, is thatwhich allows the spool 44 to rotate in the web pay-out direction as justdescribed. In some alternate embodiments, the retractor 12 may beconfigured as a conventional emergency locking retractor (ELR) or otherconventional retractor.

In the illustrated embodiment, an attachment structure 46 is engageablewith the spool 44 and with the web 13 to secure a portion 13A of the web13 thereto. The web sections 16, 26 are defined by the web portion 13Asuch that the web section 16 extends in one direction away from theportion 13A and the web section 26 extends away from the portion 13A inan opposite direction. In one embodiment, the attachment structure 46 isprovided in the form of a threaded fixation member, e.g., a screw or thelike, configured to be advanced through the web portion 13A and intoengagement with the spool 44 such that the web portion 13A is fixed tothe spool 44. Those skilled in the art will recognize other structuresand/or techniques for fixing the web portion 13A to the spool 44, and itwill be understood that any such other structures and/or techniques areintended to fall within the scope of this disclosure.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-4B, the web sectionsalternatingly overlap one another as the web sections 16, 26 are woundtogether onto the spool 44 as the web sections 16, 26 are taken up asbest illustrated in FIG. 4B and, in like manner, alternatingly unwindtogether from the spool 44 as the web sections 16, 26 are paid out fromthe retractor 12. In this embodiment, the web sections 16, 26 thusunwind from, and wind upon, the spool 44 approximately equally such thatapproximately equal lengths of the web sections 16, 26 pay out from, andare taken up by, the web retractor 12 with each rotation of the spool44. In the illustrated embodiment, the web portion 13A is positionedapproximately midway between the opposite ends of the web 13 such thatthe web sections 16, 26 are approximately equal in length as illustratedby example in FIG. 4A. In other embodiments, the web portion 13A may bepositioned elsewhere along the web 13, e.g., offset from the midpoint ofthe web 13, such that the web section 16 is longer or shorter than theweb section 26. In any case, the web retractor arrangement 10 isconfigured as just described to simultaneously take up and pay out thetwo web sections 16, 26 such that a conventional two-point web restraint(including the retractor 12, the web 13 and the engagement members 22,32) is implemented with a single retractor 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-11 , another embodiment 100 of a dual-webretractor arrangement is shown. In the illustrated embodiment, theretractor arrangement 100 includes a dual-web retractor 102 within whichtwo separate webs 16′, 26′ are operatively attached to a frame 110 towhich a housing 104 is mounted. One end of the housing 104illustratively defines a web opening 106 through which the web 16′passes into and out of the housing 104, and an opposite end of thehousing 104 defines another web opening 108 through which the web 26′passes into and out of the housing 104.

In the illustrated embodiment, one end of the web 16′ is mounted to aspool of a retractor, as will be described in detail below, and anopposite end of the web 16′ passes through a slot 20 defined on aconventional engagement member 22 after which it is attached back ontothe web 16′ in a conventional manner to secure the web 16′ to theengagement member 22. In the illustrated embodiment, as described in theembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 , the engagement member 22 is aconventional tongue member of a conventional restraint system, whereinthe tongue member 22 illustratively defines a conventional tongue 24configured to be detachably coupled to a conventional buckle member. Oneend of the web 26′ is mounted to a spool of another retractor, as willalso be described in detail below, and an opposite end of the web 26′passes through a slot 30 defined on another conventional engagementmember 32 in the form of a conventional buckle member. The end of theweb 26′ is then attached back onto the web 26′ in a conventional mannerto secure the web 26′ to the buckle member 32. The buckle member 32, asdescribed above, illustratively defines a conventional slot 34 thereinsized and configured to receive the tongue member 22. The buckle member32 includes a conventional locking structure therein configured tolockingly engage the tongue member 22, and further includes a releaseactuator 35 operatively coupled to the locking structure. As furtherdescribed above, the tongue member 22 and the buckle member 32 areconfigured and operable in a conventional manner such that advancing thetongue 24 into the slot 34 causes the locking structure to engage thetongue 24 and lock or lockingly couple the tongue member 22 to thebuckle member 32, and the locking structure is responsive to actuationof the release actuator 35 to release the tongue 24 therefrom and, insome embodiments, to at least partially eject the tongue 24 from theslot 34. In the illustrated embodiment, the lengths of the webs 16′, 26′are approximately equal, although in alternate embodiments the length ofthe web 16′ may be less than or greater than the length of the web 26′.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 7-11 , the retractor 102 includes a frame110 defining a pair of spaced-apart sidewalls 110A, 110B each extendingupwardly from a floor or bottom wall 110C of the frame 110. The frame110 further illustratively includes a top plate 110E which extends overthe bottom wall 110C and is illustratively mounted to the free (top)ends of the side walls 110A, 110B as best shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 . Asalso depicted in FIGS. 7-11 , some embodiments of the frame 110illustratively include a bracket 110D having opposing side walls eachextending downwardly into engagement with the bottom wall 110C of theframe 110, and having a top plate coupled to and between the bracketside walls such that the bracket 110D extends over the top plate 110Ewith bracket side walls mounted to the bottom wall 110C.

The frame 110 is shown supported by a support surface S (see, e.g., FIG.10 ), and the frame 110 is illustratively mountable, i.e., securable, tothe support surface S in a conventional manner. In the illustratedembodiment, for example, the frame 104 is mounted to the support surfaceS by a fixation member 170, e.g., a bolt or screw, which extends throughan opening formed through the frame wall 110C and into an opening in thesupport surface S. In some embodiments, the fixation member 170 is athreaded bolt, and in such embodiments the fixation member 170 isaffixed to the bracket 110D and to the bottom wall 110C via conventionalthreaded engagement members, e.g., nuts, 172A, 172B respectively. Inembodiments in which the fixation member 170 is threaded, the fixationmember 170 is illustratively advanced into the openings to secure theframe 110 to the support surface S. It will be understood that thefixation member 170 represents only one example structure and techniquefor mounting the frame 110 to the support surface S. Those skilled inthe art will recognize other structures and/or techniques for mounting,i.e., securing, the frame 110 to the support surface S, and it will beunderstood that any such other structures and/or techniques are intendedto fall within the scope of this disclosure.

The frame 110 illustratively supports two spaced-apart web retractors112, 118 each separately integrated into the frame 110 at opposite endsthereof. The web retractor 112 illustratively includes a spool 113rotatably coupled to and between the two sidewalls 110A, 110B of theframe 110 as best illustrated in FIGS. 7-11 , and one end of the web 26′is affixed to the spool 113 in a conventional manner. A conventionalspring assembly 116 is coupled to an opposite (i.e., outer) side of thesidewall 110A, and the spring assembly 116 illustratively biases thespool 113 to rotate in a web take-up direction as is conventional. Thebiasing force of the spring assembly 116 may be overcome by pulling theweb 26′ in a web pay-out direction, opposite the web take-up direction,to pay out, i.e., extract, web 26′ from the retractor 112 in aconventional manner. In some embodiments, at least one toothed wheel isrotatably coupled to the spool 113 such that the toothed wheel rotateswith the spool 113. In some such embodiments, two such toothed wheelsare mounted to the spool 113; one at each end thereof. This embodimentis illustrated by example in FIGS. 7-11 in which a toothed wheel 114A isrotatably mounted to the spool 113 adjacent to the side wall 110A andanother toothed wheel 114B is mounted to the spool adjacent to the sidewall 114B, such that the wheels 114A, 114B are both in-board of theframe 110 between the inner surfaces of the side walls 110A, 110B. Insuch embodiments, the frame sidewalls 110A, 110B each illustrativelydefine a locking bar opening therethrough (see, e.g., locking baropening 110G defined through the side wall 110A in FIG. 11 ), sized toengage a conventional rotatable locking bar 162.

In such embodiments, the web retractor 112 is a conventional automaticlocking retractor (ALR), wherein the locking bar 162 illustrativelyrotates relative to the frame sidewalls 110A, 110B to a position whichcooperates with the teeth defined on the toothed wheels 114A, 114B toblock rotation of the spool 113 in the web pay-out direction underdeceleration conditions of the support surface S as is conventional, andto otherwise move, or stay, in a position relative to the framesidewalls 110A, 110B which allows rotation of the spool 113 in the webpay-out direction in response to a force applied to the web 26′ in thepay-out direction that is greater than the biasing force of the springassembly 116 as described above. In such embodiments, the spool 113 isrotatable relative to the frame 110 in the web take-up directionregardless of the position of the locking bar 162 relative to thetoothed wheels 114A, 114B, and the default position of the locking bar162, i.e., under non-deceleration conditions and deceleration conditionsbelow a threshold value, is that which allows the spool 113 to rotate inthe web pay-out direction as just described. In some alternateembodiments, the retractor 112 may be configured as a conventionalemergency locking retractor (ELR) or other conventional retractor.

In the illustrated embodiment, the web retractor 118 is identical to theweb retractor 112 in that the web retractor 118 illustratively includesa spool 119 rotatably coupled to and between the two sidewalls 110A,110B of the frame 110, and one end of the web 16′ is affixed to thespool 119 in a conventional manner. In the illustrated embodiment, thesidewalls 110A, 110B are each single, unitary sidewalls to and betweenwhich both the spools 113 and 119 are rotatably mounted. In somealternative embodiments, the sidewalls 110A, 110B may be provided in theform of a first set of spaced-apart sidewalls between and to which thespool 113 is rotatably mounted, and a second set of spaced-apartsidewalls between and to which the spool 119 is rotatably mounted,wherein the first and second sets of sidewalls are spaced apart from oneanother and coupled together, e.g., via the base 110C of the frameand/or one or more coupling plates, strips, straps or other conventionalcoupling members. In any case, a conventional spring assembly 122 iscoupled to an opposite (i.e., outer) side of the sidewall 110A such thatthe spring assembly 122 biases the spool 119 to rotate in a web take-updirection. The biasing force of the spring assembly 122 may be overcomeby pulling the web 16′ in a web pay-out direction, opposite the webtake-up direction, to pay out, i.e., extract, web 16′ from the retractor118 in a conventional manner. As best shown in FIGS. 9 and 11 , thespools 113, 119 are spaced apart and arranged such that the longitudinalaxes about which the spools 113, 119 separately rotate are substantiallyparallel with one another.

In some embodiments, at least one toothed wheel is rotatably coupled tothe spool 119 such that the toothed wheel rotates with the spool 119. Insome such embodiments, two such toothed wheels are mounted to the spool119; one at each end thereof. This embodiment is illustrated by examplein FIGS. 7-11 in which a toothed wheel 120A is rotatably mounted to thespool 119 adjacent to the side wall 110A and another toothed wheel 120Bis mounted to the spool adjacent to the side wall 114B, such that thewheels 120A, 120B are both in-board of the frame 110 between the innersurfaces of the side walls 110A, 110B. In such embodiments, the framesidewalls 110A, 110B each illustratively define a locking bar openingtherethrough (see, e.g., locking bar opening 110F defined through theside wall 110A in FIG. 11 ), sized to engage a conventional rotatablelocking bar 160. In such embodiments, the web retractor 118 is aconventional automatic locking retractor (ALR), wherein the locking bar160 illustratively rotates relative to the frame sidewalls 110A, 110B toa position which cooperates with the teeth defined on the toothed wheels120A, 120B to block rotation of the spool 119 in the web pay-outdirection under deceleration conditions of the support surface S as isconventional, and to otherwise move, or stay, in a position relative tothe frame sidewalls 110A, 110B which allows rotation of the spool 119 inthe web pay-out direction in response to a force applied to the web 16′in the pay-out direction that is greater than the biasing force of thespring assembly 122 as described above. In such embodiments, the spool119 is rotatable relative to the frame 110 in the web take-up directionregardless of the position of the locking bar 160 relative to thetoothed wheels 120A, 120B, and the default position of the locking bar160, i.e., under non-deceleration conditions and deceleration conditionsbelow a threshold value, is that which allows the spool 119 to rotate inthe web pay-out direction as just described. In some alternateembodiments, the retractor 118 may be configured as a conventionalemergency locking retractor (ELR) or other conventional retractor.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5-11 , the dual-web retractorarrangement 100 includes a retractor spool synchronization assembly 124operatively coupled to each spool 113, 119 of a respective one of theretractors 112, 118. The spool synchronization assembly 124 isillustratively operable, as will be described in detail below, tosynchronize rotation of the two spools 113, 119 such that they rotatetogether and at the same rate so that substantially equal amounts of thewebs 16′, 26′ are taken up and paid out by the retractors 112, 118 asthe spools 113, 119 rotate together. In some alternate embodiments, thespool synchronization assembly 124 may be configured to synchronizerotation of the spools 113, 119 such that they rotate together and atthe different rates so that different amounts of the webs 16′, 26′ aretaken up and paid out by the retractors 112, 118 as the spools 113, 119rotate together.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 7-10 , the spool synchronization assembly124 is illustratively implemented in the form of a belt drive unitincluding a pair of pulley assemblies 130, 140 each operatively coupledto a respective one of the spools 113, 119 and a closed belt 150engaging the pulley assemblies 130, 140 to synchronize rotation of thespools 113, 119. The pulley assembly 130 illustratively includes a pairof spaced apart wheels 132A, 1326 each coupled to a rotatable shaft 113Asuch that the wheels 132A, 1326 both rotate with the shaft 113A. In someembodiments, the shaft 113A is part of, e.g., an extension of, the spool113, although in other embodiments the shaft 113A may be separate fromyet operatively coupled to the spool 113. In any case, the shaft 113A isdriven by, and thus rotates with, the spool 113 such that the wheels132A, 132B of the pulley assembly 130 are likewise driven by, and thusrotate with, the spool 113. The pulley assembly 130 furtherillustratively defines a radial, e.g., cylindrical, belt engagingsurface 134 between the wheels 132A, 132B. In the illustratedembodiment, the belt-engaging surface 134 defines alternating teeth andchannels 136 thereon configured to engage complementary alternatingteeth and channels 152 defined on an engagement surface of the belt 150.As the pulley assembly 130 is rotatably driven by the shaft 113, thebelt engaging surface 134 of the pulley assembly 130 thus engages andmoves the belt 150 radially about the pulley assembly 130 in aconventional manner.

In the illustrated embodiment, the pulley assembly 140 is identical tothe pulley assembly 130 and includes a pair of spaced apart wheels 142A,142B each coupled to a rotatable shaft 119A such that the wheels 142A,142B both rotate with the shaft 119A. In some embodiments, the shaft119A is part of, e.g., an extension of, the spool 119, although in otherembodiments the shaft 119A may be separate from, yet operatively coupledto, the spool 119. In any case, the shaft 119A is driven by, and thusrotates with, the spool 119 such that the wheels 142A, 142B of thepulley assembly 140 are likewise driven by, and thus rotate with, thespool 119. The pulley assembly 140 further illustratively defines aradial, e.g., cylindrical, belt engaging surface 144 between the wheels142A, 142B. In the illustrated embodiment, the belt-engaging surface 144defines alternating teeth and channels 146 thereon configured to engagethe complementary alternating teeth and channels 152 defined on anengagement surface of the belt 150. As the pulley assembly 140 isrotatably driven by the shaft 119, the belt engaging surface 144 of thepulley assembly 140 thus engages and moves the belt 150 radially aboutthe pulley assembly 140 in a conventional manner. In an alternateembodiment, the pulley assemblies 130, 140 may each include only asingle wheel operatively coupled to the respective spools 113, 119 suchthat the spool 113 rotatably drives the single wheel of the pulleyassembly 130 and the spool 119 rotatably drives the single wheel of thepulley assembly 140. In this embodiment, the peripheries of the singlewheels may be configured to engage the belt 150, and the belt 150, orchain or other drive mechanism, may thus be wrapped about the outerperipheries of the single wheels of each of the pulley assemblies 130,140.

The belt drive unit 124 is illustratively configured such that, whendriven by one of the pulley assemblies 130, 140 as just described, thebelt 150 causes the other pulley assembly 130, 140 to rotate in the samedirection. Thus, if the web 26′ is drawn out of the retractor 112, i.e.,such that the forced rotation of the spool 113 in the web payoutdirection pays out the web 26′ from the retractor 112, such rotation ofthe spool 113 drives the pulley assembly 130 to rotate in the same webpayout direction which, when transferred to the pulley assembly 140 viathe belt 150, likewise causes the pulley assembly 140 to rotate in theweb payout direction and thus drives the spool 119 of the retractor 118the web payout direction. As a result, rotation of the spool 113 of theretractor 112 in the web payout direction, by manually drawing the web26′ from the retractor 112 with a force greater than the biasing forceof the spring assembly 116, is transferred via the spool synchronizationassembly 124 to the spool 119 of the retractor 118 to cause the spool119 to likewise rotate in the web payout direction at the same rate orspeed of rotation as the spool 113 such that the retractor 118 pays outthe web 16′ at the same rate, i.e., with the same length, as that of theweb 26′. The same action just described occurs when the web 16′ is drawnout of the retractor 118, i.e., rotation of the spool 119 is transferredvia the spool synchronization assembly 124 to the spool 113 of theretractor 112 to cause the spool 113 to likewise rotate in the webpayout direction at the same rate or speed of rotation as the spool 119such that the retractor 112 pays out the web 26′ at the same rate, i.e.,with the same length, as that of the web 16′.

The reverse occurs if either web 16′, 26′ is retracted into a respectiveone of the retractors 118, 112. Thus, for example, rotation of the spool113 of the retractor 112 in the web take up direction, i.e., under thebias of the spring assembly 122, is transferred via the spoolsynchronization assembly 124 to the spool 119 of the retractor 118 tocause the spool 119 to likewise rotate in the web take up direction atthe same rate or speed of rotation as the spool 113 such that theretractor 118 takes up the web 16′ onto the spool 119 at the same rate,i.e., with the same length, as that of the web 26′. This same actionoccurs when the web 16′ is taken up on the spool 119 under bias of thespring assembly 116, i.e., rotation of the spool 119 is transferred viathe spool synchronization assembly 124 to the spool 113 of the retractor112 to cause the spool 113 to likewise rotate in the web take updirection at the same rate or speed of rotation as the spool 119 suchthat the retractor 112 takes up the web 26′ onto the spool 113 at thesame rate, i.e., with the same length, as that of the web 16′.

As described above, the spool synchronization assembly 124 isillustratively configured to cause the spools 113, 119 to rotate in theweb pay out and web take up directions at the same rates or speeds suchthat substantially equal lengths of the webs 26′, 16′ are paid out ofand taken up by the spools 113, 119. In some alternate embodiments, thespool synchronization assembly 124 may be configured, e.g., viaselective radial sizing of the belt engaging surface 134 of the pulleyassembly 130 and/or of the belt engaging surface 144 of the pulleyassembly 140, to cause the spools 113, 119 to rotate at different ratesor speeds such that different lengths of the webs 26′, 16′ are paid outof and taken up by the spools 113, 119. Those skilled in the art willrecognize other conventional structures and/or techniques forimplementing the spool synchronization assembly 124 to cause equal (orunequal) lengths of the webs 16′, 26′ to be paid out of and taken up bythe respective retractors 112, 118, and it will be understood that anysuch other conventional structures and/or techniques are intended tofall within the scope of this disclosure.

Referring now to FIG. 12 , yet another embodiment 200 of a dual-webretractor arrangement is shown. The embodiment 200 illustrated in FIG.12 shares many structures and features in common with the embodiment 100illustrated in FIGS. 5-11 . In this regard, like components areidentified by like reference numbers, and descriptions of suchcomponents will not be repeated here for brevity. The dual-web retractorarrangement 200 illustratively differs from the dual-web retractorarrangement 100 illustrated in FIGS. 5-11 in the design and structure ofthe spool synchronization assembly 210. The spool synchronizationassembly 210 is illustratively operable, as will be described in detailbelow, to synchronize rotation of the two spools 113, 119 such that theyrotate together and at the same rate so that substantially equal amountsof the webs 16′, 26′ are taken up and paid out by the retractors 112,118 as the spools 113, 119 rotate together. In some alternateembodiments, the spool synchronization assembly 210 may be configured tosynchronize rotation of the spools 113, 119 such that they rotatetogether and at the different rates so that different amounts of thewebs 16′, 26′ are taken up and paid out by the retractors 112, 118 asthe spools 113, 119 rotate together.

In the illustrated embodiment, the spool synchronization assembly 210 isprovided in the form of a web or tether drive unit including a pair ofpulley assemblies 212, 216 each operatively coupled to a respective oneof the spools 113, 119 and a flexible web or tether 220 engaging thepulley assemblies 212, 216 to synchronize rotation of the spools 113,119. The pulley assembly 212 illustratively includes a pair of spacedapart wheels 214A, 214B each coupled to a rotatable shaft 113A such thatthe wheels 214A, 214B both rotate with the shaft 113A, and the pulleyassembly 216 likewise includes a pair of spaced apart wheels 218A, 218Beach coupled to a rotatable shaft 119A such that the wheels 218A, 218Bboth rotate with the shaft 119A. In some embodiments, the shaft 113A ispart of, e.g., an extension of, the spool 113 and the shaft 119A is partof, e.g., an extension of, the spool 119, although in other embodimentsthe shaft 113A may be separate from yet operatively coupled to the spool113 and/or the shaft 119A may be separate from yet operatively coupledto the spool 119. In any case, the shaft 113A is driven by, and thusrotates with, the spool 113 such that the wheels 214A, 214B of thepulley assembly 212 are likewise driven by, and thus rotate with, thespool 113, and the shaft 119A is driven by, and thus rotates with, thespool 119 such that the wheels 218A, 218B of the pulley assembly 216 arelikewise driven by, and thus rotate with, the spool 119.

The web or tether 220 is affixed at one end to a portion of the shaft113A between the wheels 214A, 214B of the pulley assembly 212 and isaffixed at an opposite end to a portion of the shaft 119A between thewheels 218A, 218B of the pulley assembly 216. The length of the web ortether 220 is selected such that, as the pulley assembly 212 isrotatably driven by the shaft 113, the web or tether 220 wraps around,or is unwrapped from, the shaft 113A, thereby causing the shaft 119A tolikewise rotate in the same (or an opposite) direction. Likewise, as thepulley assembly 216 is rotatably driven by the shaft 119, the web ortether 220 wraps around, or is unwrapped from, the shaft 119A, therebycausing shaft 113A to likewise rotate in the same (or an opposite)direction. Otherwise, the operation of the web or tether drive unit 210is operable as described with respect to the embodiment 100 illustratedin FIGS. 5-11 in that wrapping and unwrapping of the web or tether 220about and from the pulley assemblies 212, 216 causes the webs 26′, 16′to be simultaneously taken up by and paid out from the retractors 112,118 at the same or different rate. In an alternate embodiment, thepulley assemblies 212, 216 may each include only a single wheeloperatively coupled to the respective spools 113, 119 such that thespool 113 rotatably drives the single wheel of the pulley assembly 212and the spool 119 rotatably drives the single wheel of the pulleyassembly 216. In this embodiment, the web or tether 220 is attached ateach end to the outer periphery of a respective one of the single wheelsof the pulley assemblies 212, 216, and the web or tether 220 may thus bewrapped about the outer peripheries of the single wheels of each of thepulley assemblies 212, 216.

Referring now to FIG. 13 , still another embodiment 300 of a dual-webretractor arrangement is shown. The embodiment 300 illustrated in FIG.13 shares some of the structures and features in common with theembodiments 100 and 200 illustrated in FIGS. 5-12 . In this regard, likecomponents are identified by like reference numbers, and descriptions ofsuch components will not be repeated here for brevity. The dual-webretractor arrangement 300 illustratively differs from the dual-webretractor arrangements 100 and 200 illustrated in FIGS. 5-12 in that theretractors 112, 118 are positioned side-by-side and share a common spool310 with one section 310A of the spool 310 defining the spool of theretractor 118 and with another section 310B of the spool 310 definingthe spool of the retractor 112. The webs 16′, 26′ are illustrativelyaffixed to the respective spool sections 310A, 310B in a manner whichcauses the webs 26′, 16′ to be simultaneously taken up by and paid outfrom the retractors 112, 118 at the same or different rate.

In the illustrated embodiment, the dual-web retractor arrangement 300includes a frame 304 having spaced-apart sidewalls 304A, 304B extendingupwardly from a bottom wall 304C of the frame 304, and another sidewall304D spaced apart from the sidewall 304B with each extending upwardlyfrom another bottom wall 304E contiguous or coupled to the bottom wall304C such that the bottom walls 304C, 304E lie in the same plane. Thespool 310 extends through, and is rotatably coupled to, each of thesidewalls 304A, 304B, 304D such that the spool section 310A is definedand extends between the sidewalls 304A, 304B and the spool section 310Bis defined and extends between the sidewalls 304B, 304D. The spoolsections 310A, 310B share a common longitudinal axis about which thespool 310 rotates relative to the frame 304.

In the illustrated embodiment, the retractor 118 includes toothed wheels312A, 312B each rotatably coupled to the spool section 310A, and toothedwheels 314A, 314B each rotatably coupled to the spool section 310B. Thetoothed wheels 312A, 312B and 314A, 314B illustratively serve the samefunctions as the toothed wheels 48A, 114A, 114B and 120A, 120Billustrated in the attached figures and described above, and in thisregard the retractors 112, 118 may be ALRs, ELRs or other retractortypes. A spring assembly 316 is mounted to the sidewall 304D and isoperatively coupled to the spool 310 in a manner which biases the spool310, and thus both spool sections 310A, 310B, to rotate in the web takeup direction. The spring assembly 316 may be identical to the springassemblies 116, 122.

In the illustrated embodiment, the web 16′ is affixed to the spoolsection 310A such that the web 16′ pays out from, and is taken up fromthe underside of the spool section 310A, and the web 26′ is affixed tothe spool section 3106 such that the web 26′ pays out from, and is takenup from the top side of the spool section 3106. Thus, rotation of thespool 310 in the web take up direction causes both of the webs 16′, 26′to be simultaneously taken up on the respective spool sections 310A,3106 at the same or different rate, and rotation of the spool 310 in theweb pay out direction causes both of the webs 16′, 26′ to besimultaneously paid out from the respective spool sections 310A, 310B.

While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, such an illustration and descriptionis to be considered as exemplary and not restrictive in character, itbeing understood that only illustrative embodiments have been shown anddescribed and that all changes and modifications consistent with thedisclosure and recited claims are desired to be protected.

What is claimed is:
 1. A dual-web retractor, comprising: a frame havingfirst, second and third sidewalls spaced apart from one another with thesecond sidewall positioned between the first and third sidewalls, aspool rotatably mounted to and between the first, second and thirdsidewalls, the spool having a first spool section defined between thefirst and second sidewalls and a second spool section defined betweenthe second and third sidewalls, a first web having one end coupled tothe first spool section, and a second web having one end coupled to thesecond spool section, wherein rotation of the spool in a first directioncauses the first and second webs to be simultaneously taken up on thefirst and second spool sections respectively, and wherein rotation ofthe spool in a second direction opposite the first direction causes thefirst and second webs to be simultaneously paid out from the first andsecond spool sections respectively.
 2. The dual-web retractor of claim1, further comprising a pair of engagement members configured to bereleasably engaged to one another, wherein an opposite end of the firstweb is coupled to one of the pair of engagement members, and wherein anopposite end of the second web is coupled to the other of the pair ofengagement members.
 3. The dual-web retractor of claim 2, wherein thefirst web is coupled to the first spool section such that the first webis payable off the spool from one end of the frame, and wherein thesecond web is coupled to the second spool section such that the secondweb is payable off the spool from an opposite end of the frame.
 4. Thedual-web retractor of claim 1, further comprising a spring assemblycoupled to one of the first and third sidewalls and to the spool, thespring assembly configured to apply a first force to the spool to causethe spool to rotate in the web take up direction to simultaneously takeup the first and second webs on the first and second respective spoolsections.
 5. The dual-web retractor of claim 4, wherein the spool isresponsive to a second force, greater than the first force, manuallyapplied to the first or the second web in a direction away from thespool to cause the spool to rotate in the web payout direction tosimultaneously pay out the first and second webs from the first andsecond respective spool sections.
 6. The dual-web retractor of claim 1,wherein the dual-web retractor comprises an automatic locking retractor.7. The dual-web retractor of claim 1, wherein the dual-web retractorcomprises an emergency locking retractor.
 8. The dual-web retractor ofclaim 1, further comprising: at least one toothed wheel rotatablycoupled to the spool, and a locking bar operatively mounted to theframe, the locking bar movable relative to the frame under decelerationconditions of the frame to engage the at least one toothed wheel toblock rotation of the spool in the web payout direction.
 9. A dual-webretractor, comprising: a frame having first, second and third sidewallsspaced apart from one another with the second sidewall positionedbetween the first and third sidewalls, a spool rotatably mounted to andbetween the first, second and third sidewalls, the spool having a firstspool section defined between the first and second sidewalls and asecond spool section defined between the second and third sidewalls, afirst web having one end coupled to the first spool section, a secondweb having one end coupled to the second spool section, and a springassembly coupled to one of the first and third sidewalls and to thespool, the spring assembly configured to apply a first force to thespool to cause the spool to rotate in a web take up direction tosimultaneously take up the first and second webs on the first and secondrespective spool sections.
 10. The dual-web retractor of claim 9,wherein the spool is responsive to a second force, greater than thefirst force, manually applied to the first or the second web in adirection away from the spool to cause the spool to rotate in a webpayout direction, opposite the web take up direction, to simultaneouslypay out the first and second webs from the first and second respectivespool sections.
 11. The dual-web retractor of claim 10, wherein thefirst web is coupled to the first spool section such that the first webis payable off the spool from one end of the frame, and wherein thesecond web is coupled to the second spool section such that the secondweb is payable off the spool from an opposite end of the frame.
 12. Thedual-web retractor of claim 11, further comprising a pair of engagementmembers configured to be releasably engaged to one another, wherein anopposite end of the first web is coupled to one of the pair ofengagement members, and wherein an opposite end of the second web iscoupled to the other of the pair of engagement members.
 13. The dual-webretractor of claim 9, wherein the dual-web retractor comprises anautomatic locking retractor.
 14. The dual-web retractor of claim 9,wherein the dual-web retractor comprises an emergency locking retractor.15. The dual-web retractor of claim 9, further comprising: at least onetoothed wheel rotatably coupled to the spool, and a locking baroperatively mounted to the frame, the locking bar movable relative tothe frame under deceleration conditions of the frame to engage the atleast one toothed wheel to block rotation of the spool in the web payoutdirection.
 16. A dual-web retractor, comprising: a frame having first,second and third sidewalls spaced apart from one another with the secondsidewall positioned between the first and third sidewalls, a spoolrotatably mounted to and between the first, second and third sidewalls,the spool having a first spool section defined between the first andsecond sidewalls and configured to couple to a first web, and a secondspool section defined between the second and third sidewalls andconfigured to couple to a second web, and a spring assembly coupled toone of the first and third sidewalls and to the spool, the springassembly configured to apply a biasing force to the spool to cause thefirst and second spool sections to rotate in a first direction.
 17. Thedual-web retractor of claim 16, further comprising: at least one toothedwheel rotatably coupled to the spool, and a locking bar operativelymounted to the frame, the locking bar movable relative to the frameunder deceleration conditions of the frame to engage the at least onetoothed wheel to block rotation of the spool in a second directionopposite the first direction.
 18. The dual-web retractor of claim 16,further comprising: the first web, the first web coupled to the firstspool section and configured to wrap about the first spool section uponrotation of the spool in the first direction, and the second web, thesecond web coupled to the second spool section and configured to wrapabout the second spool section upon rotation of the spool in the firstdirection.
 19. The dual-web retractor of claim 18, wherein the first webis coupled to the first spool section such that the first web is payableoff the spool from one end of the frame, and wherein the second web iscoupled to the second spool section such that the second web is payableoff the spool from an opposite end of the frame.
 20. The dual-webretractor of claim 16, wherein the dual-web retractor comprises anautomatic locking retractor or an emergency locking retractor.